Bangor Daily News
Corporate veil hides Schoodic landowners
By BDN Staff
March 27, 2008

WINTER HARBOR - Officials in Winter Harbor and nearby Gouldsboro have entered into preliminary discussions on the possible development of more than 3,000 acres adjacent to the Schoodic Point section of Acadia National Park.

Michael Saxl of the consulting firm Maine Street Solutions in Augusta confirmed Wednesday that he represents the landowner doing business as Winter Harbor Properties Inc. and that he has held meetings this week with local and state leaders.

Saxl, a former Maine legislator and speaker of the house, stressed, however, that no formal plans have been announced.

"Our hope is to be as inclusive and transparent as possible," Saxl said by telephone. "We’re looking forward to productive discussions and to hearing concerns as well as hopes or aspirations."

Although no plans have been put to paper, the intent of the development would be to create an eco-resort community that combines both land stewardship and sustainable development. No specific details were offered about what that community would look like.

Saxl said the development could be an enormous economic opportunity for the two Schoodic Peninsula communities that have been distressed since the closing of a former U.S. Navy base at Winter Harbor in 2002.

Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, has been involved in some of the meetings this week related to the proposed development and said he is intrigued by what he’s heard so far.

"This is a very ambitious and interesting proposal," Damon said, adding that he has neither endorsed nor condemned the idea. "While I recognize it as preliminary development initiative, it seems to incorporate a lot of good management practices, although I’m not a planner."

Winter Harbor Town Manager Roger Barto, who also participated in meetings earlier this week, declined to comment about any potential development.

"They are basically seeking our opinions and input to hone it further. It’s my understanding that they will come back to do public hearings with whatever they propose," Barto said.

The land in question directly abuts the Schoodic Point section of Acadia National Park, which is separate from and perhaps more tranquil than the main portion of the park on Mount Desert Island.

Sheridan Steele, superintendent for Acadia National Park, said that while he has yet to meet with representatives of the landowner, "my initial reaction is one of great concern. Any development is going to have tremendous impact on the park."

Steele did say that park officials are willing to sit down with developers, but when asked if there could be a compromise, the superintendent said, "I don’t know. There are so many variables."

Stephanie Clement, conservation director for Friends of Acadia, a nonprofit group affiliated with the park, also expressed concern but said it’s important to hear what the developers have to say.

"We haven’t seen any formal plans, but I think what’s most important to us is that the conservation values of the property are protected," she said.

The 3,300-acre parcel has been owned for many years by the Modena family, originally from Italy. A majority of that land was at the center of controversy in 1996 when Winter Harbor Properties Inc. harvested timber on 2,400 acres. Around the same time, the owners considered dividing the land into as many as 2,000 house lots, but those plans never materialized.

Schoodic Point generates hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, according to Steele.

Saxl acknowledged there will likely be resistance to any development, but he said he has no intention of misinforming the public. He said he plans to involve all affected parties, including local environmental and conservation groups such as the Frenchmans Bay Conservancy and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

"To their credit, they have been busy trying, at least preliminarily, to get feedback from as many people as possible," Sen. Damon said. "They seem committed to sitting down and getting input, seeing what the public want and need is, and seeing if that can be fulfilled."

Steele, however, remained skeptical.

"Over my career, I’ve seen enough where developers present a pretty picture in order to get support, and later the economics dictate something else," he said.